Every signing and departure from the Geelong Football Netball League off-season, full profiles on club recruits
Haven’t been keeping track of the comings and goings this Geelong league off-season? Here are all the signings and departure with full profiles on every recruit.
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Former AFL stars and local footy guns are among the signings at Geelong league clubs ahead of the 2025 season.
The biggest names of them all will be coaching in the GFNL next year in Geelong great Steve Johnson (Newtown) and dual St Kilda best and fairest Seb Ross, who will also be taking the field for Colac.
Here is the inside word on every signing and departure.
BELL PARK
Jett Bermingham (North Warrnambool)
The prolific 185 centimetre midfielder helped North Warrnmabool to a grand final last season as he finished joint-winner in the Hapmden league’s Maskell Medal — the second of his career. Bell Park had been after him for a few years and he will play a key on-ball role in 2025.
Oliver Hicks (Ainslie)
A ruck-forward, Hicks has a strong frame and loves the contested side of the game which will suit the Geelong competition. The Canberran will join the Dragons in February and is tipped to ease the load of ruckman Ollie Bridgewater in 2025.
Departures: Former AFL-listed Tiger Kaelan Bradtke is returning to Corowa Rutherglen, but he only played two games for Bell Park in 2024 with his Geelong VFL commitments. Ben Worme, who was named in the best in 10 of their 19 games last season, has signed with Blackburn after moving to Melbourne. Will Tobin (Heathcote) has returned to Bendigo after three seasons with the Dragons.
COLAC
Seb Ross (St Kilda)
Local footy signing don’t get much bigger than this. Ross signed as playing co-coach of Colac in October after being delisted from St Kilda, telling this masthead that the Tigers reminded him of his junior club in Horsham. The talented midfielder won two best and fairests and played 211 games across 13 seasons at the Saints and should dominate in the GFNL in 2025.
Oskar Smartt (Essendon VFL/Keilor)
Signing with Colac in December, Smartt is set to feature for the Tigers when he isn’t selected for Essendon VFL. The powerful half forward was on the mid-season draft radar after catching the eye for the Bombers and the Young Guns early last season. He is the nephew of Colac premiership player Kane and kicked 12 goals in 12 games for the Bombers in 2024.
Jack Skinner (Colac Imperials/Geelong Falcons)
Skinner has moved to the biggest team in Colac after playing 12 games at the Geelong Falcons this year, where he impressed as a competitive lockdown defender. The 18-year-old is a good size at 188cm.
Jack Finn (Simpson)
Having last played reserves for Colac in 2021, Finn is back at the Tigers after three seasons at Simpson.
Departures: Bailey Scott, who finished third in the 2023 Mathieson Medal, only played one game last year because of his Essendon VFL commitments but he has opted to take on a coaching role with Colac Imperials in a blow for the Tigers. Ollie Butler (Modewarre) and Rani Jamieson (Allansford) have found new homes after splitting their time between the seniors and reserves in 2024.
Coaching changes: Jason Armistead – Geelong Falcons’ first ever girls coach – joins Seb Ross as co-coach of the Tigers after Rowan McSparron called time last year.
GEELONG WEST
Zekiah Davey (Lara)
The ex-Geelong Falcons forward crosses to Geelong West after kicking 12 goals in 11 games last season for the Cats, including a three-goal haul against North Shore. Davey is a good size at 190cm and can take a grab.
Finley O’Keefe (Inverleigh)
The Giants junior returns to the club after five years at Inverleigh, helping them to a premiership in 2023 and proving himself as one of the best young talents in the Geelong & District league.
Harper Costa (Geelong Amateur)
The son of former Geelong West captain Tony, Costa, the youngster earned 10 mentions in the best in 20 games for Geelong Amateur U18s last season.
Bailey Harvey (Lara)
Harvey signed with the Giants in November off the back of the most promising season of his career, named in the best in five matches.
Noah Allen (Colac Imperials)
Allen, 22, has shone in the Colac & District league for Birregurra and then Colac Imperials over the past four seasons. He was named in the best in eight of his 14 games last season for the Imperials off halfback and in previous seasons he was a consistent goalkicker.
Oliver Maddalena (Geelong Amateur)
The classy forward dominated at junior level, finishing as the leading goalkicker in U18 division one last year with 41 majors in 15 games – including two six-goal hauls.
Departures: Mathieson Medal runner up Tanner Lovell and fellow Geelong VFL player Jamieson Ballantyne have returned to their local club Portland. Kade Lovell has also followed his brother to the Tigers. Another important Giant in Emmanuel Ajang will pursue an opportunity in the SANFL with South Adelaide after signing in December, while Tex Mitchell has joined the Ballarat Swans after five senior games in 2024.
Coaching changes: Former Sydney player Wade Chapman was appointed as an assistant coach in November, having played 51 games for the Swans. He also has extensive coaching experience, leading Drysdale to back-to-back premierships in 2009-10.
GROVEDALE
Nathan Kreuger (Collingwood)
After signing with Geelong VFL in December, Kreuger became a Tiger in early January thanks to a connection with his fiancee. The 196cm key forward will be a key player for the Cats so is unlikely to be available but Grovedale said he will likely be involved in a coaching capacity. Kreuger played 15 senior games across an injury-riddled five seasons at Geelong and Collingwood.
Ed Adams (Shepparton United)
Adams impressed for Grovedale back in 2019 and the 24-year-old utility is back in 2025. He bagged 34 goals in 18 games in the GFNL and is currently training with Essendon VFL.
Tom Moloney (Winchelsea)
Moloney, 24, will make the jump from the Geelong & District league, where he booted 14 goals from 17 games playing primarily as a ruckman.
Ben Davis (Stawell)
The Grovedale junior returns to the Tigers after stints at Stawell Warriors, Stawell Swifts and St Albans. Davis kicked 15 goals in 19 goals and was named in the best on six occasions last season.
Departed: Gun goalkicker Mitch Chafer has headed to rivals Grovedale in a blow to their forward stocks. Tom Wisken has moved back to home to Western Australia, Blake Hodgson signed with St Albans while Harvey Murrant will join Geelong West’s GDFNL side.
LARA
Majak Daw (Deer Park)
Lara secured the former North Melbourne and Melbourne big man in September. Daw, who played 54 games across 12 seasons at the top level, kicked 22 goals in six senior games for Deer Park last year and will bolster the Cats’ forward line.
Darby Henderson (Williamstown/Grovedale)
It came as little surprise that new coach Brett Henderson brought his son Darby across. The Bendigo Pioneers graduate has played 53 VFL games for Williamstown including nine appearances last year, also taking the field in one match for Grovedale.
Departures: Mitch Day and Dan Weigl signed with Geelong Amateur, where the pair have both played before, in a significant blow to their key position stocks at both ends. Ball-magnet Bayley Cockerill, who ranked top three in the comp last year for disposals, contested possessions, inside 50s and clearances, was snapped up by St Mary’s, while former captain Dylan Jose joined Thomson. Key defender Ben O’Brien (North Geelong) and Zekiah Davey and Bailey Harvey (both Geelong West) have also departed. Bailey Ettridge will head to the states for the start of his college football journey after securing a four-year scholarship with the University of Nevada.
Coaching announcement: After losing ex-Bomber and Giant Devon Smith and Shayne Stone as co-coaches, the Cats secured Brett Henderson as coach in September. Henderson has 30 years of coaching experience and held various roles at the Bendigo Pioneers, Williamstown and Port Melbourne – the latter where he was head of development and then backline coach from 2023-24.
LEOPOLD
Lewis Gilbert (Lake Wendouree)
Gilbert broke through for three senior games in the Ballarat league and kicked 17 goals in 12 games at U19 level last season.
Departures: Leopold will be without a fair few of its premiership players in 2025. Ollie Tate, Jye Cross and Tom Gordon have all retired, intercept king Tevan Nofi has joined Anglesea, while James Edmonds (Port Fairy) and Jake Pitt (Albury) have also departed. Mitch Howard, Riley Hayden and Nick Lane have crossed to Portarlington.
NEWTOWN & CHILLWELL
Oscar Murdoch (Geelong Cats)
Murdoch has returned to his junior club after spending two years on Geelong’s list without playing a game. The 190cm defender averaged 10 touches and four intercepts in the VFL in 2024.
Logan Morey (Yarrawonga)
Steve Johnson managed to bring 29-year-old Morey with him from Yarrawonga, where he played under the former Cats and Giants star in a premiership. Morey has plenty of senior experience and can play in defence or on a wing.
Archer Harkness (Torquay)
A Torquay junior, Harkness was named in the best in six of his 17 games for the Tigers in U18 division one last season.
Departures: Inspirational veteran Matt McMahon announced his retirement at the end of the season. Flynn Young – who turned heads for the Eagles before winning a premiership with Werribee in the VFL – has returned to Barwon Heads, with Zach Walter following him to the Seagulls. Joe McDonald is back at Ocean Grove after a year at the Eagles and Rhys Devlin is another heading to the Grubbers. Former Cats VFL key forward Liam Fiore has returned to Shepparton, promising youngster Kane Reid has signed with Woorinen in the Central Murray league, while Alex Pocock will spend 2025 travelling.
Coaching announcement: After a disappointing season on-field, Newtown & Chillwell secured Geelong great Steve Johnson as its new coach, replacing long-time coach Damien McMahon. Johnson told this masthead he is eager to break their premiership drought, having coached Yarrawonga to two grand finals and a premiership.
NORTH SHORE
Bailey St John (Otway Districts)
North Shore’s first signing of the off-season came to the club after 12 games in the Colac & District league for Otway Districts in 2024, where he was named in the best three times. He has previously played for Henty (Hume FNL) and the Wodonga Saints (Hume FNL).
Ryan Cerny (Horsham Demons)
Cerny didn’t play footy last year but took the field at reserves level for Horsham in his first senior season in 2023.
Departures: Best and fairest Nathan Arbon and playing assistant Mahli King will return to Western Australia next season, while fellow 2023 recruit Nathan Chadwick will also depart. Arbon and King regularly among the best and will be difficult to replace. Star ruckman Kobe Annand will try his hand in the SANFL after finding himself down the pecking order at Werribee. Another three Seagulls have headed to the GDFNL: Brad Gerrard (Anakie), who co-captained in 2024, Jordan Purcell (North Geelong) and Aaron Seller (Bannockburn).
Coaching announcement: Former North Geelong coach Mark Hounslow has the task of turning North Shore’s fortunes around. He was an assistant under former Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson at Eastern league 2024 premiers Balwyn.
SOUTH BARWON
Josh Corbett (Fremantle)
In what may be the most crucial signing of the off-season, the Swans landed Corbett, 28, fresh out of the AFL. Corbett retired from the game after undergoing a full hip replacement and told this masthead there would be no timeline on his return. The 41-game Fremantle and Gold Coast forward will also fulfil an assistant coaching role at the club.
Oscar Pollock (Port Fairy)
The 20-year-old medium forward is training with Geelong VFL over the pre-season after kicking 25 goals from 18 games with 11 mentions in the best for Port Fairy in 2024. Pollock also represented the U23 Hampden league side against the Ballarat league last year.
Tyson Funston (St Arnaud)
At 183cm, Funston played 17 games for St Arnaud in the North Central Football League last year in his first season of senior football.
Joel Hogan (North Beach)
Hogan returns to South Barwon after spending the past two years playing with North Beach in the Perth Football League.
Nick Stevenson (Warrigul)
Stevenson last played for Warrigul in 2023 where he spent time in the ruck at 190cm. Signed as a 28-year-old in December, he brings experience to the Swans’ list.
Jackson Carrick (Hepburn)
Carrick is back at the Swans, where he played 12 senior games in 2021-22, after two seasons with Hepburn in the Central Highlands FNL. He kicked 33 goals in 14 games for the Burras.
Dan Richardson (Casterton Sandford)
Played six games for Casterton Sandford in south east South Australia last year. He also made one appearance for the Swans reserves, but he is back full-time this year.
Paddy Bourke (Inverleigh)
Close ties brought Bourke to South Barwon, with his partner playing netball at the club and close friends Taylor Mulraney and Sam James part of the senior football side. Bourke kicked 22 goals in Inverleigh’s premiership year in 2023.
Leigham Elzinga (Bannockburn)
A lively playmaker, Elzinga played eight games for the Geelong Falcons this year and has turned heads in the Geelong & District league over the past two seasons. He was named in the best in five of his eight senior games in 2024.
Jaxon Elzinga (Bannockburn)
Elzinga mirrored his brother Leigham’s 17th year for Bannockburn, earning 11 mentions in the best in 19 matches at senior level. Watch out for Jaxon and Leigham in the future.
Departures: Jackson Carmody had re-signed but will move to Melbourne instead, with Andrew Hutchinson also heading up the highway. Jake Peters has signed with Ararat.
Coaching changes: South Barwon has an enviable coaching panel under Mark Neeld. Corbett, former GFNL coaches Damian McMahon and Alex Tortora and Newtown & Chillwell U18 premiership coach Kaine Marsh. Former assistant coach Trent Rodgers was appointed as the inaugural coach of Surf Coast in December.
ST ALBANS
Tom Higgins (Wickham Wolves)
A good friend and former teammate of Cats sensation Lawson Humphries, Higgins will reunite with him down in Geelong. The 194cm key forward showed his goalkicking prowess with 61 goals in 16 games in the North Pilbara league in 2022 but has been limited by injuries in recent seasons.
Nic Clarke (Clunes)
The 195cm key forward previous played for Newtown & Chillwell and Modewarre before joining Clunes in the Central Highlands league in 2017. He kicked 14 goals in 14 games last season and has also taken on coaching roles alongside new assistant coach Luke Davidson.
Matt Kasparian (Clunes)
Kasparian fills a much-needed role in the ruck and provides great experience. The 29-year-old has won two best and fairests at Clunes, and played alongside dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale at Glenelg U18s. He also took the field for Modewarre from 2022-23.
Seth Morrell (returning)
Morell took the 2024 season off to start a business after an impressive 2023 season where he finished sixth in the Supersaints’ best and fairest. He has been one of the standouts on the track this pre-season.
Jed Warrin (Apollo Bay)
A talented midfielder with senior experience for Shepparton Bears, St Joseph’s (2023) and Apollo Bay (2024), Warrin had nine finishes in the best from 18 games last season. The Supersaints are excited by what he can produce.
Kye Warrin (Apollo Bay)
The brother of Jed, Ky is a versatile swingman who had seven mentions in the best from 18 games for Shepparton Bears in his last full season in 2023. He featured in two games alongside Jed at Apollo Bay last year.
Lucas Gray (Torquay)
A Torquay junior, Gray is a small forward who represented the Falcons at U16 level. He is the brother of current player Miles.
Angus Evans (Birregurra)
Evans is back at the Supersaints after a season with Birregurra in the Colac & District league, where he kicked four goals in 12 games.
Dion Robertson (Modewarre)
Robertson is another recruit with a Clunes link, playing for the club in 2023. He had nine appearances in Modewarre’s reserves last season and played some senior footy for the Warriors before heading to Clunes.
Marcus Groves (Point Cook)
A dynamic 30-year-old small forward, Marcus brings a wealth of experience to the club. Coming from Point Cook, he’s represented the WRFL at interleague level multiple times. Marcus will be reuniting with our senior coach, Rick Munn, with whom he’s shared the field in the past.
Tyson Roberts (Geelong West)
Roberts is part of the Geelong Falcons training squad and returns to the Supersaints after a season with Geelong West U18s.
Max Askew (Apollo Bay)
Askew featured in 16 games for Apollo Bay last season where he kicked nine goals, previously playing two seasons of reserves footy with St Joseph’s.
Seth Alsop (Leopold)
Alsop signed on for two seasons with St Albans after 16 appearances and 14 goals for Leopold’s reserves side in 2023.
Koby Harris (Point Cook)
A powerfully built youngster, Harris broke through for two senior games as a 17-year-old last season for Point Cook. The forward-mid’s strength, versatility and x-factor stand out.
Sam Cunningham (Point Cook)
A defender with elite skills, Cunningham was another to impress for
Sam is a general defender with elite skills by foot. Like Koby, he was instrumental in Point Cook’s Under-18 Grand Final campaign and has proven himself at senior level with 3 games as a 17-year-old.
Blake Hodgson (Grovedale)
The young midfielder impressed at junior level for Grovedale and managed to play five senior games last season along with nine in the reserves. He was named in the best for the Tigers in his senior debut.
Blake Dyson (Anglesea)
Dyson has been on the Supersaints’ radar for the past couple of years, with the tall taking a year off in 2024 and playing just one reserves game in 2023. St Albans see him as a key forward/back-up ruckman.
Departures: A relatively small list compared to their raft of inclusions. Defender Ben Miller is heading back to Koroit, Ethan Guida has joined St Joseph’s, while Riley Somers will call Belmont Lions home in 2025.
Coaching announcement: Rick Munn replaced former coach Alex Tortora in August, signing a three-year deal with St Albans. Munn coached under Garry Hocking at Leopold in 2024. New assistant Dave Hawks joins Munn at the Supersaints from Leopold, working in the Lions’ junior program. Former Leopold reserves gun Jordan Drayton comes on as a forwards coach, former St Joseph’s and Modewarre player Luke Davidson will be a senior assistant coach, while Luke Mulquinney will lead their development squad.
ST JOSEPH’S
Mitch Chafer (Grovedale)
Chafer has crossed to St Joseph’s, which will make the Joeys’ attacking arc even more dangerous. The former Geelong VFL player booted 27 goals in 10 games for Grovedale last year and should get more supply in 2025.
Keelin Betson (Mooroopna)
Betson joins his brother Liam at the Joeys. The Bendigo Pioneers best and fairest winner in 2016, Betson had a breakout season in the Goulburn Valley league last season, representing their interleague side and receiving 11 mentions in the best from 18 games for Mooroopna.
Cooper Ward (Barwon Heads)
The powerful forward was one of the best performed Falcons last season, booting 27 goals in 16 games – including seven goals, 17 disposals, 14 score involvements and 184 SuperCoach points in one game. Ward also bagged 16 goals in five senior games for Barwon Heads in an exciting sign for the Joeys.
James Hose (Bannockburn)
The 2023 GFNL rookie of the year took his talents to the Falcons in 2024, playing 13 games for the season. His workrate was so highly regarded that a photo of Hose was stuck on the wall as a reminder to others to follow his example.
Joseph Chaplin (Perth WAFL/returning)
A 193cm tall returns to St Joseph’s, where he played in 2023, after a season in the WAFL with Perth. Chaplin. 23, averaged 11 disposals, four marks and kicked 12 goals in 18 games for the Perth last year.
Callum Mitchell (returning)
Mitchell returns to Drew Oval after playing in different surrounds last year for the West London Wildcats. The former Geelong VFL player kicked nine goals in 16 appearances in 2023 for the Joeys.
Ethan Guida (St Albans)
Guida shone for St Albans after joining them mid-season and surely caught the Joeys’ attention in round 12, when he tallied 31 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 151 Premier Data ranking points against them.
Departures: Geelong Falcons graduate Olivier Northam is the only major out after crossing to SAFNL club South Adelaide, following a four-game stint for them late last season. Reserves players Ayden Gras (Anglesea), Lochie Hocking (Modewarre), Jay Kirkwood (St Arnaud), Jaiden Reid (Inverleigh) and Charlie Hall (Geelong West) have all found new homes.
St Mary’s
Ryan Pendlebury (Euroa)
The brother of Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury will be taking his years of VFL and local footy experience to St Mary’s. A key defender, Pendlebury has played with Collingwood, Port Melbourne and Werribee and was a playing coach with Euroa in the Goulburn Valley league for the past year while working as an assistant with North Melbourne’s AFLW side.
Paddy Dowling (Geelong Amateur)
Paddy’s back at St Mary’s after a sabbatical in the Bellarine competition with the Ammos. The dangerous forward booted 51 goals in 19 games last season, including a haul of 8.10 against Ocean Grove, and will help fill the void of Sam Dobson.
Bayley Cockerill (Lara)
Cockerill crosses from Lara after a dominant season for the Cats. The prolific midfielder ranked seventh for Premier Data ranking points, third for disposals third for contested possessions, second for clearances and second for inside 50s in 2024.
Charlie Lang (Finley)
A returning junior, Lang won a best and fairest with Murray league grand finalist Finley this year. Lang last played for the Saints in 2018 at U18 level when he won the league best and fairest and helped them to a premiership, also playing 15 senior games with Newtown & Chillwell in 2019.
Ben Berry (Cobden)
A forward-ruck, Berry represented the Hampden league U23 side last year after playing 18 games and kicking 19 goals for Cobden, with seven mentions in the best.
Departures: Where do we start. Dual Mathieson medallist Harry Benson is the biggest blow for the Saints, deciding to take his talents to the QAFL with Palm Beach Curumbin. Key forward Sam Dobson, who bagged 94 goals in just 28 games at the Saints, is off to coach at his local club Koroit. Former Melbourne listed forward Dion Johnstone (Newcomb), Damian McMahon (Barwon Heads), Joe Maishman (Geelong Amateur) and Harry Ling (Anglesea) have all departed to the Bellarine. Former Geelong VFL listed duo Kade Chalcraft (Shepparton United) and Nic Minchin (Murrumbeena) will return to their junior clubs.
Originally published as Every signing and departure from the Geelong Football Netball League off-season, full profiles on club recruits
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